I certainly picked an interesting semester to start commuting to San Francisco.

Through two Bay Bridge closures, the worst rainstorm the Bay Area has seen in more than six decades, senioritis (because graduation is only mere weeks away), and the start of the winter holidays, I am surprised I have even made it to class most days.

The Bay Bridge has been the cause of my biggest headaches. With its new curves, its often-closed right lane, and the sheer number of people who choose this mode of transport to get across the bay--280,000, according to the Chronicle's latest published numbers--I have to leave my house in the East Bay before 7 a.m. to make it to a 9:30 a.m. class. BART is always an option too, but standing packed in a train with impatient city workers and young families lugging huge suitcases to San Francisco International Airport during commute hour is not the greatest start to the morning. "I am lucky if I get a seat on the 6:50 train out of Walnut Creek," says Ashley Barry, a trendy San Francisco State fashion merchandising student who commutes by BART two days per week. Since the rest of her classes during the week start after rush hour, she can drive instead, and this is by far her preferred mode of transportation over BART. With the constant battle to get a seat or advance in the line of traffic, "I've really started to dread going [to] school" this semester, says Barry.

Kate Mahoney, a Colorado State University graduate, works for a software sales firm in Potrero Hill. She commutes by car from the East Bay to get to the office for early calls to clients on the East Coast, and she gets free parking near the office if she arrives before 8 a.m. As a result, she begins what would be a forty-five minute drive at around 6:30 a.m.

"I would have moved to the city sooner, but I wanted to save up some money first," says Mahoney, laughing as she describes finishing her makeup before reaching the Bay Bridge toll plaza in the morning. She even achieved her highest BeJeweled score on her phone while sitting in traffic coming home. "Now that I have [the money], I am actively looking for an apartment because the commute is slowly driving me insane."

Appropriately enough, Mahoney has named her black Corolla "Kaduka," which she says means "crazy" in Guam's national language, Chamorro.

Since becoming a commuter this semester, my own car-a little red Volkswagen Bug that has gone through several name changes--has become my home in San Francisco. In the front seat, a global positioning system system hides under crumpled magazines and packets of instant oatmeal, with my iPod resting in the cup holder. The front speakers--one of which blew out two years ago and now crackles when the bass is played too loud--play the Rachel Maddow Show podcast, or my favorite playlist of Australian festival music. My glove compartment is stocked with Luna bars for breakfast on the go, and in the trunk hides a sleeping bag and pillow for naps between classes and late night couch surfing.

Like many commuters, I also have what I call my "commuting uniform:" sweatpants, a warm sweater, Uggs, and a beanie. If I am up for it, I will bring a change of clothes and switch outfits before I run to Café 101 for a hot coffee, but more often I find myself following Barry's example: "I roll out of bed, put sweats [on], and fall asleep [on BART]."

Fortunately, BART does provide commuters with an accurate timeframe, unlike the congestion at the bridge's toll plaza. Barry has found that, nine out of ten times, BART ensures she will get to class on time, but when the bridge shut down for six days, Mahoney's commute was worsened by a long shot. "I crashed on friends' couches a few nights," says the twenty-three-year-old. When she did drive from home, she had to take two BART trains and a Muni bus. "This was a huge pain, [as it] added another thirty minutes onto my commute time."

The Bay Bridge is expected to close again this month to properly repair the cracked eyebar that has caused its last two unscheduled closures. While this may affect Barry's and Mahoney's morning commutes, I hope to have packed away my sleeping bag, enjoyed a hot breakfast at home, and successfully graduated by then. [X]